Locking device for purses and pocket-books



C. BALA. LOCKING DEVICE FOR PURSES AND POCKET BOOKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1920. l v

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

I NV EN TUR.

(n NPs/E171@ ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES CHARLES BAIA, 'oF JERSEY CITY, .NEW JERSEY.

LOCKING DVICE FOR` PURSES ANI) POCKET-BOOKS.

Specicatpion of Letters Patent. Patented N0V 30, 1920 Application filed March 6, 1920. Serial No. 363,819.

Y ./"o all fw hom e't may concern,

' Be it known that T, CHAnLE-s BAIA, acitiyen of the United States, and a resident of vJersey City, Hudson county, State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain'new and useful improvements in Locking Devices for Purses and Pocket-Books'of which the following is a specification. f.

My invention relates toiinprovements in locks for purses, bags, pocket-books and the like and has for its object the construction of a simple device of this kind which may be readily manipulated and remain in closed position unless its operating mechanism is positively moved by hand to enablethe unlockingof the purse, bag, etc.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of my construction showing the locking member and the keeper member separated.

Fig. 2 is a like view with these'parts in engagement with one another.

Fig. 3 is a detail view taken in the direction of the arrow 3 shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a like view taken on lined-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. l,

Fig. 6 is a section taken online 6-60f Fig. 1.

Like reference letters designate likeparts in all the drawings.

In its more specific applicability this construction pertains to locking means for purses or ladies pocket-books such as made in the form of a pair of book covers with an overhanging iiap secured to one of the covers overlappingly and lockingly to engage the other cover, the locking member being carried by the iiap of such purse or pocket-book and the cooperating or keeper member being secured upon the outer or `front cover thereof.

In the drawings 1 represents the material of the fiap of a purse to which is secured 'a box-like metallic plate 2 having side walls or flanges 3 at its outer edges and prongs 4; which pass through the material 1 of the iap, such as leather, textile material, leatherette, etc. Centrally through this plate 2 a perforation 5 is provided through which a stem or key 6 is adapted to be passed, said stem having at its outer end an appropriate knob 7 for manual manipulation. This stem 6, a short distance from its attachment to the inner 'tace of the knob 7 ;is formedwith a `squared intermediatefpor ytion 8 while its remaining, rounded end porytion 1s formed with two oppositely located transverse projections or lock lugs 9 ywhose function is to be hereinafter described. The

perforation in the plate 2 is of extended or elongated form as vshown at 10, (see Figs.

3-6) the elongations permitting the passage through the `plate 2 of the projections 9 of the stem' when in line therewith. A plate 11 1s provided for the purpose of clamping the boxelike plate and appurtenant parts securely to the flap l, said plate having a perforation similar to the elongated perforation 10 and having, further, a plurality of perv torat1ons12 near its edges which are located 1n line with the prongs 4 of plate 2 andengaged thereby by bending said prongs over the outer face of said plate 11 after they have been passed through the material 1 of the flap. In this manner the fastening member is secured to the flap l, being clamped between the flanges 3 ofthe plate 2 and the inner face of the plate 11. The box-like lianged 'plate 2 supports and its flanges engage two, preferably U shaped leaf springs 13 and 14:, oppositely located within i the box, (as shown in Fig. 6) the armsla and 14a of said springs tending to exert pressure toward one another and against the flat, squared intermediate portion Sfof the stemk 6 thereby resiliently maintaining the same against a turning or revolving move? ment. f f p g A I have thus far described the mechanism provided for the flap and shall now describe thecoperatingmembersprovidedonthecover of the purse with which the flap is to be lockingly engaged. This member comprises a plate 15 secured upon the outer side of the cover 16 of the purse, said plate having a perforation 17 similar to the elongated perforation of plate 2, the said perforations in plates 2 and 15 in operative position ybeing in transverse alinement with `one another. This Vplate 15 is provided at its corners with a plurality of prongs 18 which, having been passed through the material of the cover panel 16 engage an inside plate 19 by being turned upon the inner face thereof, as shown at 19a. This inside plate 19 as shown, maybe made of rectangular form, the corners 19b being slightly out out to receive the prongs 18, which at the same time serve to retain the plate against displacement. desired, however, said plate 19 may be pro` vided with perforations similar to perforations l2 in which case, the prongs 18 would be passed through the material and the perforations 12 and bent over upon the inner face of the plate l5.

The stem 6 is preferably soldered centrally to the inside face of the knob 7 and to avoid any unnecessary play between the knob 7 and the box-like Vplate 2, a coiled spring 20 may be placed about the stem 6, braced against the inside face of the knob 7 and against the outer face of the box-like plate 2, the knob being preferably cup shaped, although if desired the same may he made in the form of a solid block.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that when the parts described are assembled and the two members in operative relation the stem 6 will have been passed through the perforation 5, the material l, the inner plate l1, the plate 15 and the material 1G of the cover panel, the lock lugs in assembling being in alinement'with the elongations of the perforations in the plates 2, ll and l5. To secure the flap to the cover panel of the pocket-book the knob is given a turn at right angles whereby the lugs 9 are turned into engagement with and overlap the rearward face of thel plate l5 on the cover panel so that the two coperating locking members will be in locking engagement. The pressure of the pair of U .springs against the squared portion 8 of the stem 6 resiliently maintains the stem and its lock lugs 9 in such locking position until :by a positive return quarter-turn the lugs 9 will again be brought into alinement with the elongation of the perforation in plate l5 permitting the locking members to be separated. For the purpose of limiting the movement of the stein in either direction to a one-quarter turn stops 21 may be provided on the rearward face of the plate 15 which stops are engaged by the lugs 9 in 'tion therein, a revoluble parted to said stem.

moving them to either locking or unlocking position.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A locking mechanism for a purse formed of relatively limber material, comprising a plate secured to the overlapping flap thereof said plate having a central perforation therethrough; a companion plate adapted to clamp the material of said Hap in coperation with said flap-plate and having a central perforation therethrough; a plate secured to the cover panel ofthe purse,

said lastv mentioned plate having an elonfaces; a leaf Spring adapted to engage said surfaces and locking lugs at one end of said stem adapted to be engaged by and to be disengageable from the panel plate according tothe turn imparted to said stem.

2. A locking mechanism for a purse comprising a plate secured to the flap, said plate having a perforation therein, a second plate secured to the outer cover, said latter plate having an elongated perforastem passing through the perforations of saidplates said stem having along its length flattened sur* faces, a coiled spring about said stem, a leaf spring on either side of a pair of said flattened surfaces adapted to engage said pair of flattened surfaces, and locking lugs near one end of said stem adapted to be engaged by and to be disengageable from said latter plate according to the turn imoHAs. BMA. v 

